Sewing tape

ABSTRACT

A sewing tape especially adapted to provide a measured sewing guide line when using a sewing machine. The tape is in the form of a strip provided with cuts or serrations for separating the tape into ribbons of predetermined thickness and has suitable guide lines printed thereon some of which coincide with the cuts or serrations.

United States Patent [191 1111 3,797,120

Byne Mar. 19, 1974 [54] SEWING TAPE 2.511.953 6/1950 Tallman 35/243.031.359 4/1962 Blank et al 161/38 [75] Zachary Paul Byne Brmklyn2,510,120 6/1950 Leander 117/122 P [73] Assignee: Emerson Labeuape Corp2,932,897 4/1960 Huber .1 33/137 Brooklyn, NY.

[22] Filed p 17 1972 Primary Examiner-Harry N. Haroian Attorney, Agent,or FirmKenneth S. Goldfarb 21 Appi. No.: 244,562

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 33/137 R, 33/75 R 511 1111.121. G01b 3/10 Aespecally adapted Pmvlde a [58] Field of Search 33/137,. 180 R 2, 1sured sewing guide line when using a sewing machine.

33/75 R; 112/136, 152, 153, 51; 225/93, The tape is in the form ofastrip provided with cuts or 965 2; 117/122 P serrations for separatingthe tape into ribbons of predetermined thickness and has suitable guidelines [56] References Cited printed thereon some of which coincide withthe cuts UNITED STATES PATENTS serratcms' 2.805.485 9/1957 Krummel33/174 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SEWING TAPE the use of sewingmachines to provide for accurate top stitching.

In the use of sewing machines, even a skilled operator has difficulty inmaintaining exact alignment and regularity when stitching. Heretoforevarious means for the alignment of the material being sewn have beenutilized including pins, chalk marks, and the like, all of which areunsatisfactory. Pins cannot be usedin connection with vinyls, suede,leather, and other fabrics which are damaged thereby. Chalk marks oftenleave difficult to clean spots on the fabric and in. themselves are notwholly accurate.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome thevarious disadvantages of the prior art alignment means while alsoproviding a sewing tape that has numerous applications besidesfacilitating accurate and perfect top stitching.

It is another object of the invention to provide a sewing tape which isadapted for numerous uses including aiding zipper applications, tostabilize stretchy fabrics,

baste hems, simplify pattern alterations, measure button and buttonholeplacements, which is adapted to mark the right andwrong sides offabrics, and which is adapted to be placed on a sewing machine as astitching guideline.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the provision of asewing tape that is arranged to separate into ribbons of predeterminedwidths having accurate lines and indicia thereon which may be easilypackaged in endless rolls, which is adapted to be adhesively secured ona piece of fabric in a manner so as to be securely fastened theretowhile being easily removable from the fabric without pulling orstretching the fabric, and which is inexpensive to manufacture inelongated strips adapted to be formed into rolls for packaging atrelatively low cost thereby permitting wide use and distribution. v v

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features ofthisinvention, which will become apparent as thefollowing descriptionproceeds, are attained by this sewing tape, a preferred embodiment ofwhich is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, by way of exampleonly, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a sewing tape in accordance withthe concepts of the present invention with the balance of the tape beingwoundto form a roll;

FIG. Zis an enlarged sectional view looking along the plane of line 2-2in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating one manner in which the tapemay be used;

, FIG. 4 is a sectional detail view taken transversely of I the tapeshown in FIG. 3 and illustrating in an enlarged scale the next step ofthe manner in which the tape is used for facilitating top stitching;and,

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 after stitching has been completed. I

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein likereference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views,reference numeral is used to generally designate a sewing tape inaccordance with the concepts of the present invention. This sewing tapeincludes an elongated strip 12 of paper or paper-like material or anyother suitable flexible base material, which is provided with a coating14 of a pressure sensitive adhesive on the lower face 16 thereof. Aplurality of depressions 18 are formed in rows and project upwardly fromthe lower face 16 above the upper face 20.0f the strip 12. Thesedepressions 18 are imperforate forming closed air pockets which areuseful for a purpose to be here and after disclosed. Further, the closeddepression 18 maintain their shape even after the tape has been appliedon any desired fabric.

Score lines in the form of serrations or cuts 22, 24, 26 and 28 areformed in the strip 12 and extend longitudinally thereof in spacedparallel relationship to each other with the score lines22 beingone-eighth inch from the edge 30 of the strip 12. The score line 24 isone-fourth inch from the edge 30 and the score line 26 is three-eighthsinch from the edge 30 and threeeighths inch from the edge 32 of strip12. The score line 28 is one-half inchfrom the edge 30 and one-fourthinch from the edge 32, the entire tape being threefourths inch in width.Accordingly, suitable indicia 34, 36, 38,40 and 42 designate the widthof the strip along the score lines 22, 24, 26'and 28 from the edge 30and are suitably printed on the strip 12.

A plurality of lines 44, 46, 48 and 50 which closely coincide with thescore lines 22, 24, 26 and 28 are printed on the strip 12 and arepreferably black in color so as to stand out from the color of the strip12, which may be of any suitable color such as yellow, white, cream or.the like. These lines 44, 46, 48, and 50 provide a visual indication ofthe location of the score lines and when the ribbons have been separatedby breaking along the score lines, the printed lines 44, 46, 48 and 50provide visual graphic edging for the ribbons.

A first plurality of transverse lines 60 are printed in spaced relationto each other any suitable distance apart and extend from the edge 30 tothe line 48. Other printed lines 62 are one-fourth inch apart from eachother, while the printed lines 60 are located one-half inch apart fromeach other. In addition, transverse lines 64 are provided on the strip12 and extend from the edge 32' to the line 46 so that the ribbon 70 isprovided with the transverse lines which are one-fourth inch apart. I v

In'using the sewing tape for top stitching, it is desired to cut alength of tape 80 as needed and asshown in FIG. 3. The length has beenpulled apart along cut 26 to form a ribbon three-eighths inch wide. Theedge 30 is placed at the seam line on the section of material A whichoverlies the piece of material B and the tape section 80 leaving line 48as a stitching guideline. Then, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, it ispossible to stitch a seam S exactly next to the stitch guideline 48. Thetape may be slashed or split and wrapped around curves as may be needed.If more than one line of stitching is desired, it is possible to stitchdirectly through the tape preferably along one of the guidelines 44, 46,48 and 50 so that when it is desired to remove the tape, the tape willreadily pull apart along one or more of the cuts 22, 24, 26 and 28, thusallowing the tape to be easily removed without disturbing the stitching.Of course, the needle of the sewing machine must be wiped cleanperiodically when stitching through the tape.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the tape 80 may be easily removed because ofthe trapped air in the depressions 18. The depressions l8 facilitate theremoval of the tape without disturbing the fibers of the materialsbecause of the break in the adhesive contact of the pressure sensitiveadhesive 14 with the fabric.

It is to be noted that two or more widths of tape may be combined formeasurements wider than threefourths inch. The tape may be used tostabilize stretchy fabrics for stitching. The tape is useful for finalstitching of zippers on outsides of the garment by use as stitchingguides and to hold zippers in place inside of a garment. The transverselines 60, 62, and 64 are highly desirable for use as measuring guidesfor replacing buttons and making buttonholes and lines 60, 62 and 64 areuseful for measuring and holding hems in position at the desired length.Of course, pieces of the tape may be placed on the wrong side of cutpieces before removing a pattern so that the right from wrong side ofthe fabric can be easily identified. The tape may be used as a machinestitching guide by suitable application on a sewing machine.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in theforegoing disclosure, and in some instances some features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures.

I claim:

1. A sewing tape comprising an elongated strip of flexible materialhaving an upper face and a lower face, an adhesive coating on said lowerface, said strip having a plurality of imperforate depressions in saidlower face and projecting upwardly of said upper face, and elongatedweakening cuts in said strip extending longitudinally the length of saidstrip for dividing said strip into ribbons of predetermined width, aplurality of longitudinally extending lines on said upper face closelycoinciding with at least some of said weakening cuts, said linesextending parallel to each other, indicia on said upper face indicatingthe distance each of said lines is from an edge of said strip, aplurality of transverse lines on said tape extending normally to saidstrip and marking at least some of said ribbons into sections ofpredetermined length, some of said transverse lines extending from oneedge of said strip to one of said cuts, and others of said transverselines extending from another edge of said strip to another of said cuts.

2. A sewing tape according to claim 1, wherein said cuts are serrations.

1. A sewing tape comprising an elongated strip of flexible materialhaving an upper face and a lower face, an adhesive coating on said lowerface, said strip having a plurality of imperforate depressions in saidlower face and projecting upwardly of said upper face, and elongatedweakening cuts in said strip extending longitudinally the length of saidstrip for dividing said strip into ribbons of predetermined width, aplurality of longitudinally extending lines on said upper face closelycoinciding with at least some of said weakening cuts, said linesextending parallel to each other, indicia on said upper face indicatingthe distance each of said lines is from an edge of said strip, aplurality of transverse lines on said tape extending normally to saidstrip and marking at least some of said ribbons into sections ofpredetermined length, some of said transverse lines extending from oneedge of said strip to one of said cuts, and others of said transverselines extending from another edge of said strip to another of said cuts.2. A sewing tape according to claim 1, wherein said cuts are serrations.